Explore further This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. (PhysOrg.com) — Up until now, George Grüner tells PhysOrg.com, most of the studies regarding the properties – and uses – of carbon nanotubes have been restricted to the visible spectral range. “We, however, were interested in the properties in infrared range, in the window of the electromagnetic spectrum that is gaining increased prominence.” Carbon nanotubes made into conductive, flexible ‘stained glass’ Citation: Will carbon nanotubes replace indium tin oxide? (2009, March 9) retrieved 18 August 2019 from https://phys.org/news/2009-03-carbon-nanotubes-indium-tin-oxide.html Grüner, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, worked with Liangbing Hu and David S. Hecht to explore the infrared properties of thin films made with carbon nanotubes. Their work demonstrated that carbon nanotubes are highly transparent in the infrared range. “This attribute would make such films ideal replacement for indium tin oxide,” Grüner says. Their work can be found in Applied Physics Letters: “Infrared transparent carbon nanotube thin films.”“Finding transparent metals, which are ideal materials for use in such technologies as touch screens and solar cells, is not easy thing to do. Indium tin oxide, ITO, is predominantly used,” Grüner explains. However, ITO is rather brittle and the indium used in the alloy is becoming scarce. Scientists have discovered that films of carbon nanontubes are conductive and sufficiently transparent in the visible range, offering the potential to replace indium tin oxide.While finding a replacement for indium tin oxide for applications that make use of visible light is significant, Grüner and his colleagues were more interested in whether or not carbon nanotube thin films could be useful in the infrared range as well. “ITO is not much transparent in the infrared range,” Grüner says, “so there are some applications that wouldn’t be suited for.” “A range of applications are making use of the infrared range,” Grüner continues. “Military applications would benefit greatly, especially in terms of infrared sensors, cameras and projectors.” Additionally, making effective use of the infrared range could also lead to more efficient solar cells. “A significant fraction of the radiation from the sun is in the infrared range. As mentioned, ITO, used as electrodes in solar cells is not transparent at infrared, this leads to decreased efficiency. Carbon nanotube thin films are transparent in the infrared range, this could help developing more efficient solar energy.”In order to test the abilities of the carbon nanotubes, Grüner and his students set up an experiment to direct infrared light through the thin film they had prepared. By measuring the intensity on the other side of the film, they were able to gauge its transparency. “It’s really pretty straightforward,” Grüner says. “The art is really making a well conducting film.”Grüner points out that such films are more transparent than other materials showing good optical transparency is the visible spectral range. “That came as a bit of a surprise,” he acknowledges. “This opens up a number of interesting opportunities for a variety of applications,” Grüner says. “We are looking forward to seeing if what we have found will finds it’s way into useful applications.”More information: Hu, Hecht and Grüner. “Infrared transparent carbon nanotube thin films,” Applied Physics Letters (2009). Available online: link.aip.org/link/?APPLAB/94/081103/1. Copyright 2009 PhysOrg.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of PhysOrg.com.read more

Darjeeling: The Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Darjeeling remanded 6 persons to 5-day police custody on Saturday. These persons were arrested on November 2 in connection with a case of September 9, 2017, wherein the persons were allegedly planning to cause a series of explosions in Darjeeling.The arrested include Puran Tamang (43), Shekhar Rai (35), Bhaskar Rai (39), Vishal Bomjan (29), Safal Lama (30) and Pradeep Thapa (30 years). They all are residents of Haringhata on the outskirts of Darjeeling and were absconding for a long time. They have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and Explosive Substances Act. “The police had prayed for 7 days of remand in order to investigate other co-accused, reconstruction of crime, identification of the hideouts, recovery of explosives, bomb making materials and other articles. The court allowed for 5-day of police remand. They will be produced on November 8,” stated Pankaj Prasad, Assistant Public Prosecutor, Darjeeling. Also Read – Rain batters Kolkata, cripples normal lifeIncidentally, Darjeeling and Kalimpong Hills were in the grip of a violent agitation in 2017 spearheaded by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha led by Bimal Gurung. The agitation culminated in a 105-day bandh with incidents of arson, explosion and violence all over the Hills. The police on September 4, 2017 had received information that some GJM supporters from Lower Harsing and Lebong were planning to cause explosions at an undisclosed location in Darjeeling. A raid had been conducted at Lower Harsing Hatta. Also Read – Speeding Jaguar crashes into Mercedes car in Kolkata, 2 pedestrians killedSome packets of explosive substances (power gel), detonator with wire, metal splinters, metal blades, catapult, iron rods, chopper, electric wire, bottles of petrol, improvised bullet heads and rubber stamp of president/secretary of Yuva Morcha were recovered from a house. Police initiated investigations and a case was started against front rung GJM leaders including Bimal Gurung, Prakash Gurung, Praveen Subba and others. The names of the persons arrested on November 2 this year also came up during investigations. They have been absconding. Raids have been continued to be conducted since then. Based on source investigation these persons had returned to meet their family members, police managed to successfully net the 6 arrested from Harsing Hatta. During investigation, they have admitted to their involvement and their statements have been recorded under Section 16 CRPC. The others named in the FIR are still absconding.read more

It’s that time of the year again when legendary musical maestros are slated to perform at one of India’s oldest music festivals – Shriram Shankarlal Music Festival 2017 – that is almost as old as Independent India. The Shriram Shankarlal Music Festival has been curated by Padmashree Shobha Deepak Singh, festival director and vice-chairperson of Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra (SBKK) and will be held in the SBKK lawns from March 30 to April 2, from 7 pm to 10:30 pm. Also Read – Add new books to your shelfThe four day festival will kickstart with a vocal performance by the doyenne of Hindustani music Girjia Devi followed by vocals by Ajoy Chakraborty. Other participating artists are Manjiri Asanare (vocal), Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma (instrumental on santoor), Biswajit Roy Chowdhury (instrumental on sarod), Rashid Khan (vocal); Purbayan Chatterjee (instrumental on sitar) and the grand finale on April 2 will be by none other than Pandit Jasraj.”This is the 70th edition of the festival and, after many years, we are hosting it in open air in the lawns of SBKK. In its nascent years, it was only the senior artists who were part of the festival, but now, we make special effort to include younger talent as well. Contrary to popular belief that classical music is losing its audience base, the success of the festival year after year proves that there is not only a discerning audience for classical music but also that classical music retains its unique position on Indian arts,” says Shobha Deepak Singh. Also Read – Over 2 hours screen time daily will make your kids impulsiveThe festival which began as a small concert with an informal gathering of musicians at Sumitra Charat Ram’s (the founder-patron of SBKK) house at Delhi’s Curzon Road has now become a forum for the talented youth alongside the most authentic traditional musicians.Keeping in mind the season and the spirit of festivity, the artists are slated to perform songs around Holi, Chaiti, Kajri, dadra and Ram bhajans.read more